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Factsheet The Triumphs of Caesar by Andrea Mantegna • The Triumphs of Caesar represent some of the most important Italian Renaissance paintings in the world. Collectively they constitute the largest area of Renaissance painting in a single pageant on display outside of Italy. • The series was painted by Andrea Mantegna, probably between c.1485 and 1506. The son of a master carpenter, Mantegna was born c.1431 and died in 1506. He trained in Padua and was the Court painter to the Gonzaga family from 1460. • The Triumphs of Caesar were probably commissioned by Mantegna’s Patron Francesco II Gonzaga (ruled 1845-1519). • A ‘Triumph’ was the greatest honour that could be given to a Roman general. Classical subjects like Julius Caesar (c.102-44BC) were greatly admired in the Renaissance, in this case for his military and literary skills. Caesar was awarded five triumphs, which all took place between 46 and 45 BC. This particular triumph would appear to unite at least two of his greatest campaigns; the victory over the Gauls and recovery of Pontus in Asia Minor, but may indeed be a composite representation of all of Caesar’s triumphs. • The series of nine paintings depict soldiers carrying captured booty, elephants and other exotic animals and also Caesar on a Press Office, Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB Registered Charity No 1068852 www.hrp.org.uk triumphal chariot. • Each canvas measures 2.66m x 2.78m. In total they cover an area more than 70 metres square. • The works were painted in glue distemper (animal glue based medium) or egg tempera - a mixture of egg yolk and pigment. Analysis is complicated by all the layers of paint added by later restorations. • The paintings were bought for Charles I in 1629 by his agent, Daniel Nys, who obtained an impressive collection for the king which included works by Titian, Raphael and Caravaggio - all for the sum of £25,000. • The canvasses have been displayed at Hampton Court Palace since their arrival in England in 1630, apart from a brief three month spell in 1992, when they were hung in the Royal Academy of Arts. • After the execution of Charles I in 1649, the Triumphs were listed in an inventory and valued at £1,000. However Oliver Cromwell decided not to sell the paintings as their importance to the nation (financial if not artistic) was too great. • The paintings deteriorated to such an extent that visitors in the 19th Century deplored their decayed condition. • Today eight of the paintings can be seen in their restored state, however the painting entitled The Captives was left in an uncleaned state in the 1962-1974 restoration as very little original paint lay below the surface. Press Office, Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB Registered Charity No 1068852 www.hrp.org.uk • Over the years the Triumphs have been hung in various parts of Hampton Court Palace. Today they are displayed in the Lower Orangery, in a setting which recreates the interior of the Palace of San Sebastiano in Mantua, Italy, where the paintings were hung from 1506 in a specially built gallery. The lighting and positioning of the paintings conjures up the illusion that the Roman procession is moving right in front of you. • The titles of the individual paintings in The Triumphs of Caesar are as follows: I The Trumpeters and Standard Bearers II The Triumphal Carts III The Trophy Bearers IV The Vase Bearers and Sacrificial Oxen V The Elephants VI The Armour Bearers VII The Captives VIII The Musicians IX Julius Caesar Press Office, Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB Registered Charity No 1068852 www.hrp.org.uk